Rig Veda 5.57.7: Mandala 5, Sukta 57, Mantra 7
Sukta 5.57
- Rishi
- Atri
- Devata
- Maruts
- Chandas
- Triṣṭubh
- Rasa
- Shanta (peace) and Vira (heroism)
गोमदश्वावद्रथवत्सुवीरं चन्द्रवद्राधो मरुतो ददा नः । प्रशस्तिं नः कृणुत रुद्रियासो भक्षीय वोऽवसो दैव्यस्य ॥
gómad áśvāvadráthavat suvī́raṃ candrávad rā́dho maruto dadā naḥ | práśastiṃ naḥ kṛṇuta rudriyāso bhakṣī́ya vo ’vásō daívyasya ||
اے ماروت! ہمیں ایسا عطیہ دو جو روشن گائوں سے بھرپور ہو، تیز رفتار طاقتوں سے بھرپور، ترتیب والی حرکتوں سے بھرپور، بہادر بیٹوں سے بھرپور - چاند کی طرح چمکدار۔ اے رودر کی اولاد! ہمارے لیے قابل تعریف راستہ بناؤ تاکہ ہم تمہاری آسمانی حفاظت کا حصہ پائیں۔
Word by Word
- गोमत्
- rich in cowsAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन (विशेषणरूपेण)Role Karma (राधस्/सुवीरम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root गो- (प्रातिपदिक)
- अश्वावत्
- rich in horsesAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन (विशेषणरूपेण)Role Karma (राधस्/सुवीरम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root अश्व- (प्रातिपदिक)
- रथवत्
- having chariotsAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन (विशेषणरूपेण)Role Karma (राधस्/सुवीरम् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root रथ- (प्रातिपदिक)
- सुवीरम्
- abounding in good heroes/sonsAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole Karma (ददाति इत्यस्य)Root सु-वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
- च
- andIndeclinableसमुच्चयार्थक अव्ययRoot च
- चन्द्रवत्
- shining like the moonAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन (विशेषणरूपेण)Role Karma (राधस् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Root चन्द्र- (प्रातिपदिक)
- राधः
- bounty, giftNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole Karma (ददाति इत्यस्य)Root राधस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- मरुतः
- O MarutsNounपुंलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन; बहुवचनRole सम्बोधन (आह्वान)Root मरुत्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- दद
- give!Verbलोट् (आज्ञार्थे); मध्यमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपद (वैदिक संक्षिप्तरूपः)Role क्रियाRoot दा (दाने)
- नः
- to us / for usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी; बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role Sampradāna (अस्मभ्यं)Root अस्मद्
- प्रशस्तिम्
- praise, renownNounस्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचनRole Karma (कृणुत इत्यस्य)Root प्र-शस्ति- (√शंस् ‘to praise’ से भाव/कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
- नः
- for usPronounषष्ठी/चतुर्थी; बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role Sampradāna (अस्मभ्यं)Root अस्मद्
- कृणुत
- make, grantVerbलोट्; मध्यमपुरुष; बहुवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot कृ (करणे)
- रुद्रियासः
- Rudra-like ones (the Maruts)Adjective (used substantively)पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; बहुवचनRole Kartā (कृणुत इत्यस्य)Root रुद्रिय- (रुद्र-सम्बन्धि; प्रातिपदिक)
- भक्षीय
- may I partake/enjoyVerbविधिलिङ्/आशीर्लिङ् (इच्छा/प्रार्थना); उत्तमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपदRole क्रियाRoot भक्ष् (भक्षणे)
- वः
- of youPronounषष्ठी; बहुवचन (एन्क्लिटिक)Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root युष्मद्
- अवसः
- help, protectionNounनपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचनRole Apādāna/Hetu (सहायस्य/रक्षणस्य ‘by means of/through’ भावः)Root अवस्- (प्रातिपदिक)
- दैव्यस्य
- divineAdjectiveनपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी; एकवचन (अवसः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)Role सम्बन्ध (genitive)Root दैव्य- (देव-सम्बन्धि; प्रातिपदिक)
Sandhi Notes
- पदच्छेदः (सन्धिविग्रह): गोमदश्वावद्रथवत्सुवीरं → गोमत् + अश्वावत् + रथवत् + सुवीरम्
- चन्द्रवद्राधो → चन्द्रवत् + राधः
- ददा नः → दद + नः (लोट्-रूपे वैदिक संक्षेपः)
- वोऽवसो → वः + अवसः (ओऽ = ओ + अ; अवग्रह)
- अन्यत्र स्पष्टसन्धिः न।
The meaning
Outer meaning
The poet asks the Maruts for a boon rich in cows, horses, chariots, and heroic sons, shining like the moon; and asks them to make a praiseworthy path so the worshippers may enjoy their divine protection.
Inner meaning
The requested ‘wealth’ is an inner plenitude. Go (cows) are rays of knowledge; aśva (horses) are vital energies that can carry the seeker; ratha (chariot) is organized movement of life under guidance; suvīra (heroic sons) are strong soul-forces/qualities born of the sādhana—courage, perseverance, truth-speaking, right action. ‘Candravat’ indicates a cool, luminous, sattvic radiance (mind’s reflective clarity) rather than heated desire. The ‘praśasti’ is a rightly praised/rightly guided path—an inner track of conduct and aspiration—so one may ‘partake’ (bhakṣīya) of the Maruts’ daivya avas (divine protection): the guarding pressure that keeps the life-force aligned to ṛta.
Universal truth
Spiritual progress needs resources: light (knowledge), energy (drive), disciplined movement (right method), and robust inner virtues; when these are sought in a sattvic spirit, the higher forces protect and accelerate the journey.
Themes
boon request, protection, inner prosperity, heroic force, illumination
The seer
- Rishi
- Atri (Ātreya)
- Lineage
- Ātreya
- Other hymns
- Rig Veda 5.57 (this hymn), Rig Veda 5.58 (continuation with Agni pivot)
Family tradition
Ātreya prayers often convert ‘wealth’ into inner attainments—light, strength, right movement—while still using the traditional vocabulary of cattle/horses/chariots.
Significance
Atri models the Vedic method: ask the gods for concrete supports, but intend their psychological equivalents—illumination, energy, and right path.
The deity
- Devata
- Maruts
- Epithets
- Rudriyāsaḥ (Rudra-born), bestowers of rādhas (boon), protectors by avas (help)
- Related deities
- Rudra, Indra, Agni
Cosmic role
Givers of force, rain, and protection; companions who clear the path for Indra’s victory and the sacrificer’s success.
Inner power
They increase prāṇa and courage, bestow rays of knowledge, and guard the seeker’s movement so it does not fall into disorder or depression.
In ritual
Where it is used
Petitionary verse within Marut praise—used to request protection and prosperity in the rite and community.
गोम॒दश्वा॑व॒द्रथ॑वत्सु॒वीरं॑ च॒न्द्रव॒द्राधो॑ मरुतो ददा नः । प्रश॑स्तिं नः कृणुत रुद्रियासो भक्षी॒य वोऽव॑सो॒ दैव्य॑स्य ॥
गोऽम॑त् । अश्व॑ऽवत् । रथ॑ऽवत् । सु॒ऽवीर॑म् । च॒न्द्रऽव॑त् । राधः॑ । म॒रु॒तः॒ । द॒द॒ । नः॒ । प्रऽश॑स्तिम् । नः॒ । कृ॒णु॒त॒ । रु॒द्रि॒या॒सः॒ । भ॒क्षी॒य । वः॒ । अव॑सः । दैव्य॑स्य ॥
go--mat | aśva-vat | ratha-vat | su-vīram | candra-vat | rādhaḥ | marutaḥ | dada | naḥ | pra-śastim | naḥ | kṛṇuta | rudriyāsaḥ | bhakṣīya | vaḥ | avasaḥ | daivyasya
44
4 × ~11
Supplicatory but strong; a balanced cadence suitable for asking boons without weakness.
Opens aspiration while keeping firmness; encourages a calm-luminous (candra) tone in the mind.
- गोमत् (gomat)
- Literal: rich in cows. Symbolic: rich in rays of knowledge/illumination
- अश्ववत् (aśvavat)
- Literal: rich in horses. Symbolic: abundant vital energy and effective force of action
- रथवत् (rathavat)
- Literal: rich in chariots. Symbolic: well-organized life-movement; instruments for progress
- सुवीरम् (suvīram)
- Literal: rich in good heroes/sons. Symbolic: strong inner qualities and soul-forces generated by practice
- चन्द्रवत् (candravat)
- Literal: moon-like, shining. Symbolic: cool luminous mind; calm reflective clarity
- प्रशस्तिम् (praśastim)
- Literal: praise-worthy, good fame/path. Symbolic: right direction of life, the ‘approved’ track of ṛta
- अवसः दैव्यस्य (avaso daivyasya)
- Literal: of divine help/protection. Symbolic: higher guarding grace that keeps energies in harmony
Petition (yācñā) appended to praise: requests rādhas and avas, typical of Marut hymns in Soma context; supports prosperity + protection for yajamāna and community.
After praise, at the point of asking for rādhas and avas; also appropriate in protective contexts.
Recitation with offering and intention for protection, right path, and increase of ‘wealth’.
Chant as a daily ‘inner prosperity’ prayer: for knowledge (go), energy (aśva), disciplined method (ratha), and virtues (suvīra).
(go) from PIE *gʷōus ‘cow’ but Vedic symbolism: ‘ray/light’ via ‘giver’ and ‘illumination’ usage; thus ‘gomat’ = rich in illuminations. (aśva) from PIE *h₁éḱwos ‘horse’ → speed/force. (ratha) chariot: organized dynamic movement. (rādhas) ‘gift, grace’ from √ ‘to succeed, accomplish’ → boon that effectively accomplishes. (avas) ‘help, protection’ from √ ‘to favor, protect’.
Ṛta-guidance as ‘praśasti’ (affirmed right path), Śrī/rādhas as accomplished grace, light as knowledge (go)
praśasti as the ‘approved’ way—life aligned to ṛta rather than impulsive desire.
Moon-like clarity supports truth-hearing and truth-speaking; protection helps maintain satya in action.
Building the inner ‘household’ of powers—knowledge, energy, movement, virtue—as the created order in the person.
Integral-Vedic: prosperity as growth of consciousness and capacities, not mere acquisition.
night (implied by moon)
Moon = calm luminous mind; path = track of practice; cows/horses/chariots = knowledge/energy/method.
- What is the primary Vedic 'mythologem' present in this verse?
- The divine host as givers of ‘cows/horses/chariots/heroes’—a standard boon-list that, in inner reading, signifies illumination (go), swift energies (aśva), organized progress (ratha), and heroic capacities (suvīra).
- How does the linguistic structure reflect Proto-Indo-European roots?
- go/aśva preserve classic IE prestige terms (*gʷōus, *h₁éḱwos). Their poetic pairing is cross-IE: wealth and power expressed via cattle/horse imagery, here psychologized into knowledge-force and energy-force.
- What is the relationship between the Rishi and the Devata here?
- The ṛṣi asks not for mere externals but for a luminous, rightly directed bounty (‘candrávat rādhas’, ‘praśasti’). The Maruts’ protection (avas) is something to be ‘partaken’—a sustaining presence that must enter and be assimilated by the seeker.
Ask for four inner gifts: light (go), energy (aśva), disciplined movement (ratha), virtues (suvīra); feel them descending as a cool moonlit radiance.
ajna
Chandra-bhedana (left-nostril inhale, both-nostril exhale) for 7 cycles before chanting to evoke ‘candravat’ clarity.
Quiet aspiration with steady will; receptive guidance.
After chanting, journal one concrete ‘praśasti’—a single right step for today—then invoke Marut protection over that step (avoid over-planning; keep it simple and luminous).
Svara not provided; keep a calm-luminous intonation; emphasize the enumerations (gomad/aśvāvad/rathavat/suvīram) distinctly.
Slight pause after each ‘-vat’ phrase; keep ‘candravad rādho’ flowing as one luminous unit.
: final -d is soft dental, : aśva with ś (palatal) and v clearly, : ru-dri-yā-saḥ; do not drop the y, : bhak-ṣī-ya with long ī
Gentle but steady; more resonance in the head (moonlike clarity) than in the throat.
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